For the past three years, Tecumseh’s Keenan Suthers has made an almost daily cross-border run to the United States.
It was in 2011 that Suthers, who holds dual citizenship, opted to leave minor hockey in Canada behind to get a different taste of the game in the United States.
After a year with the Detroit Honeybaked program, the 15-year-old Suthers has spent the past two years with the Detroit Compuware program.
“I played quite a while for Sun County,” Suthers said. “I was there until my minor bantam year and then I went over to Honeybaked.
“It was just high competition and the skill level was greater and I had a chance to play under two former NHL players.”
Kevin Hatcher coached him at Honeybaked and Pat Peake was his coach with Compuware.
Aside from the NHL, both Hatcher and Peake were standouts in the Ontario Hockey League and that has Suthers thinking about Saturday’s league draft.
“I’ve definitely thought about the OHL,” Suthers said. “I’m excited for the draft.
“If I was drafted by a team and they gave me a spot and I knew I could contribute and be a big part, I would most definitely go.”
Suthers is rated to go between the third and sixth round in Saturday’s 15-round draft, which begins at 9 a.m. and he’s not sure his decision to play in the United States hasn’t impacted his draft stock.
“I think it was a great decision on my part (to play in the U.S.), but I think some OHL scouts might doubt my commitment to the league,” Suthers said.
“That might be the only downfall where some scouts that interested may be thinking I might want to take (the NCAA) route rather than commit to the OHL.”
No doubt the six-foot-five, 180-pound forward is an intriguing talent for OHL teams. He put up eight goals and 13 points in 21 games for the Compuware under-16 team with just two penalty minutes.
“I’m a little concerned with his two penalty minutes for a big man,” Windsor Spitfires assistant general manager and head scout Terry Doran said.
Suthers said there’s a physical part to his game that he’s working on as he adjusts to his physical growth spurt.
“I’m definitely trying to be more physical and I feel I’m winning most of my battles in the corner,” Suthers said. “If I have a chance to hit someone, I don’t back away. I’m putting that (physical part) into my game and (scouts) shouldn’t worry about that at all.”
An honour roll student at Tecumseh Vista high school, Suthers will have options regardless of regardless of where he is taken in Saturday’s draft.
“Education is a huge part for me and (playing in the U.S.) opened up a whole other world as far as NCAA,” said Suthers, whose grandfather Tom Suthers signed with the New York Rangers before being deployed during the Second World War. “That’s another reason I decided to come over (to the U.S.) to open that world.
“I see I can compete and think I’m there with the high-end kids. I’m not worried about where I’m going and what number round I’m taken (in the OHL Draft) is not a big deal. It’s at camp where you prove yourself, but I’d rather be picked higher because that’s a huge accomplishment and it helps (increase the education package).”
jparker@windsorstar.com or Twitter @winstarparker
OHL DRAFT PREVIEW
WHAT: Ontario Hockey League Draft
WHEN: Saturday starting at 9 a.m.
LOCALS: A total of six local players are ranked for the 15-round draft.
SPITFIRES: Windsor has the 12th pick overall in the first round and 14 picks in the 15-round draft.
COVERAGE: Twitter updates @winstarparker
